* Desmond's Coffin Was Solemn Carried Past Between Us Poem by Terence George Craddock

I had known Desmond since primary school
we both played hard rugby games for United Juniors
before Desmond moved up to United Seniors

at his funeral in respect two rugby teams formed an honour guard
United Seniors in Waimangaroa red club dress jerseys at the front
United Juniors in Waimangaroa red club dress jerseys at the back

Desmond's coffin was solemn carried past between us
with bowed heads in two lines carried past between us
a headless corpse in a coffin carried past between us

it is a bitter sad way for a man to say goodbye to a friend

the memory haunted for a long time
the memory horror haunted hurt for a long time
a friend carried past headless in a coffin

buried in local communal cemetery
buried in beautiful coffin without head


Terence George Craddock (Spectral Images and Images Of Light)
Copyright © Terence George Craddock